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Bicycle Education Program Update--July 2009
Go by Bike! Bike Commuting 101 Classes
It’s not raining! Quick, get on your bike and ride!
If New York City’s rainy season left you itching for more quality time outdoors, consider riding your bike to work and for errands. Not sure how to carry your gear or choose a sensible route? Bike New York has teamed up with Eastern Mountain Sports to offer free evening Bike Commuting 101 courses to address these issues and many more in a fun, off-bike workshop. Attend a class at EMS’s new retail shop in Soho, and you will receive a voucher for a free bike tune-up courtesy of Eastern Mountain Sports (worth $75!).
When and where? Thursday, July 16 (tonight), or Thursday, August 20, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Eastern Mountain Sports, 530 Broadway at Spring Street, Manhattan. Just show up--no pre-registration.
Learn to Ride at This Summer’s Most Vibrant Events
 Want to take part in New York City’s bike-friendliest summer events, but you don’t know how to ride? Have no fear, you can learn on the spot with Bike New York!
Adults are invited to Learn to Ride at the Department of Transportation’s Summer Streets on Saturday, August 8, and Saturday, August 15, in Lower Manhattan’s impressive Foley Square. Loaner bikes will be available to those who register in advance for this free class (while supplies last).
Want to know the easy way to get your kids rolling? Bike New York’s Bicycle Education Program will bring Learn to Ride--Kids classes to Summer Streets on Saturday, August 22, and to Harbor Day in Dumbo, Brooklyn, on Sunday, September 13. Don’t miss these exciting events!
Register to Earn Your Cycling Instructor Certification in 2009
What will you say you were doing during the bicycle revolution? Encouraging people to go by bike and teaching them how to do it? If that sounds good to you, become a certified cycling instructor through Bike New York this year.
Bike New York certifies qualified cyclists as League Cycling Instructors (LCIs) each October in a weekend-long seminar based in New York City. Once certified, LCIs may be eligible to teach everything from Bike New York’s Savvy Cyclist class to Learn to Ride--Adults and Bike Maintenance 101.
If you’re not sure that you’re up to snuff, take this quick quiz to find out. Read up for more details on seminar pre-requisites, the registration process, and the certification seminar itself, and please contact Emilia Crotty (212 932 2453 x131) with any questions. Remember that completing a Savvy Cyclist course is required before you’re allowed to register for the certification seminar, so check out the class schedule and attend one soon (preferably before September 1).
Get Involved!
The Bicycle Education Program needs more than just certified cycling instructors to keep our classes going--we need you! Bike Ed volunteers help to do everything from loading and driving trucks, teaching kids how to ride, representing Bike New York at health fairs and festivals, bringing class information to bike shops, and helping to organize our office. Whether you can help out only a few hours every once in a while or can commit to a more consistent volunteer schedule, we’d love to work with you! Contact Emilia Crotty to join the Bicycle Education Program’s volunteer corps today.
Bike New York's Fleet Goes to Camp
What do you do with a kids’ bike fleet when school is out? Send it to summer camp, naturally. Bike New York’s fleet of 30 kids’ bikes, typically used to implement our Bike Driver’s Ed curriculum at schools and after-school programs, is spending the summer at two different camps this year: Oasis day camp in Central Park and Trailblazers sleep-away camp in High Point, New Jersey. Kids at both camps will have a chance to practice their bike-handling skills and traffic knowledge with Bike New York-trained specialists before hitting the trails for some two-wheeled summer fun.
Are you a teacher who wants to bring Bike Driver’s Ed and the Bike Fleet to your school this coming school year? Contact us about a Bike Driver’s Ed teacher training so you're ready. New York State Physical Education and Health teachers are invited to attend a Bike Driver’s Ed training at this year’s NYS AHPERD conference in Verona, NY this November. Visit nysahperd.org or contact Rich Conroy (212 932 2453 x159) for more details.
 Biking Rules PSA Festival and Competition
We can all do something to create safer and saner streets in New York City, whether it’s leading by example by signaling your turns and stopping at red lights or something more creative--like creating your very own public service announcement video. Our friends at Transportation Alternatives, whose new Biking Rules campaign kicked off recently, are hosting a PSA festival and competition to help spread the word that there’s a new street code in town, and cyclists are at the forefront. Get out your video camera and start shooting! (You may have to get off your bike for a few minutes, but it’s worth it.) Details >
About Us
Bike New York's Bicycle Education Program encourages smart cycling by offering free, hands-on courses to cyclists of various abilities throughout the New York metropolitan region. The Bicycle Education Program also trains and certifies Cycling Instructors and Cycling Educators to offer League of American Bicyclists educational programs in their communities and schools.
The Bicycle Education Program is always looking for volunteers, whether long-term or one-time. Contact Emilia Crotty for details, and visit BikeNewYork.org/education to learn more about the program.
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